A natural stone floor may not be for everyone, but if enduring natural beauty and exclusive design are priorities, we have your new floor. Stone tile flooring is derived from some of the most exquisite materials in the world that provide unmatched durability, intricate patterning, and richly varied colour. Formed by the earth’s elements through extremes of climate, pressure and heat over millions of years, every piece of natural stone is unique. Depending upon the nature of the stone and other design elements, stone tile flooring is distinctively decorative and can produce an ambience ranging from imperial grandeur to a refined, modern appearance. Regardless of the material or design chosen, rest assured that no other floor will ever look like yours.

Stone flooring alone guarantees truly singular design, a quality that no manufactured product can duplicate, and it is the ideal material for creating distinctive spaces. While stone flooring is not inexpensive, its visual impact and performance can make it a worthy investment. As compared to wood, tile, linoleum or carpeting, stone flooring requires far less maintenance to retain its appearance and will certainly outlast all other flooring materials under almost any conditions.

We carry a wide range of quality stone flooring, but our most popular choices are Travertine and Slate. Named for the Latin root of the small town of Tivoli, Italy, Travertine is a sedimentary limestone rock that has been used as a building material for thousands of years. It is widely installed today as a premium residential and commercial flooring material, and we source our Travertine from quarries primarily in Italy.

As Travertine never has a single solid colour, it is favoured by designers for the rich colourations and veining that run throughout the stone. Travertine offers distinctively warm, earthy tones that range from soft ivories to pale creams, with rich shades of gold, silver and deep mocha browns. And as no two tiles are ever the same, the unique beauty of a travertine tile floor is always the focal point of any room. Travertine is available in its natural state with small pitted holes and indentations, or as honed travertine where the indentations have been filled and finished to a smooth surface. Natural travertine is suitable for use in living rooms and common domestic areas, while honed travertine is recommended for in high-traffic areas, as well as kitchens and bathrooms where moisture is prevalent.

Slate is an exotic natural stone and another popular choice that is prized for its smooth, fine-grained appearance and distinctive beauty as a flooring surface. Slate floors have an inherently classic, stately appearance that integrates easily with a wide range of interior design and décor. An exceptional flooring material, slate is naturally durable, slip-resistant, non-staining, resistant to moisture, and it is often chosen specifically for foyers, hallways and in bathrooms with under floor heating. Slate flooring is also favoured for its wide spectrum of unique colour variations that include charcoal black, rusty reds, grey/greens, deep maroons and unique mixtures that add to its ability to create a refined, sophisticated space.

Regardless of the material, an important consideration with any stone tile floor is gauging, a manufacturing process that ensures each tile has been honed to a consistent thickness and surface texture to ensure dimensional uniformity. Stone tiles that are un-gauged will have variable thicknesses and dimensions, and can be prone to chipping. While gauging adds to the cost of stone tiles, it ensures that they are truly square and uniform, resulting in ease of installation and a more finished final appearance.

While the care and maintenance of a natural stone floor is much less than other materials, the most important first step is proper installation. When laid and bonded properly, stone tile is less likely to crack, slip, or become uneven. Despite their natural durability, stone surfaces are porous and can be susceptible to marking from liquid spills or from scratching. Travertine will mark or etch if exposed to acids present in household items such as lemons, vinegar, alcohol and some cleaning products. As Travertine may also have some variation in hardness and density, some stones may scratch. While slate is more water resistant, it can also be marked. We always recommend sealing natural stone as a barrier against spills and scratches.

A well installed and sealed stone floor requires little regular maintenance beyond a good dry dust mop to gently remove debris. Left unattended, dirt and grit can become abrasive and scratch the flooring material. Actual cleaning of stone flooring generally only requires a lightly dampened mop or the use of a mild neutral stone soap solution. Over time, stone floors may need to be refinished and re-sealed depending upon the amount of foot traffic.

Beyond these steps, a stone floor is comparatively maintenance free. It will immediately retire your vacuum cleaner, enhance any room’s beauty, and certainly enhance the value of your home.